The effectiveness of step-by-step adaptation of young athletes to the monofin in the context of the modern training process

the aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of the step-by-step adaptation of 12-14-year-old finswimmers to the monofin through the author’s kinetobiomechanical adaptation method based on biomechanical transition criteria. The research was conducted at the Tula Regional Olympic Reserve Sports School (Tula) in 2024-2025 and involved 38 athletes (First Class and Candidate for Master of Sport) with at least four years of training experience, divided into experimental and control groups. During one macrocycle, three consecutive stages were implemented, including the use of soft fins, stiff fins, and the monofin, accompanied by video-biomechanical analysis and joint-strength training. The results showed a statistically significant increase in competitive swimming speed at 50 m and 100 m distances and an improvement in biomechanical technique indicators in the experimental group. The findings confirm that the kinetobiomechanical adaptation method makes the acquisition of monofin technique more effective and safer for athletes. It promotes the development of coordination stability in finswimmers’ movements and can be recommended for practical application in the training process.

finswimming, youth athletes, monofin, staged adaptation, biomechanics, technique, race speed